Christina of Markyate

Christina of Markyate was a 12th-century English woman who wanted to live as a virgin dedicated to Christ. Nonetheless, under familial and community pressure she consented to marry Burthred, a wealthy young nobleman. She then sought to convince her husband Burthred to have a sexless marriage with her. With the help of other men, Christina escaped her marriage and controlled her sexual desire for men. The Life of Christina of Markyate has survived in only one manuscript, British Museum MS. Cotton Tiberius E.1.